Victims Ages 24-66 Were Employees, Customers

A woman who had just celebrated her golden anniversary, a woman adored by her nieces and nephew and a man who loved river rafting are among the dead after a gunman opened fire at an Omaha mall on Wednesday, killing himself and eight others.

Names of the victims were revealed by Police Chief Thomas Warren on Thursday. They are: Gary Scharf, 48, a customer and resident of Lincoln; John McDonald, 65, a customer and resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Angella Schuster, 36, an employee; Maggie Webb, 24, an employee; Janet Jorgenson, 67, an employee; Dianne Trent, 53, an employee; Gary Joy, 56, an employee; and Beverly Flynn, 47, an employee.

Janet Jorgenson

Jorgensen's sister-in-law said the victim had three children and eight grandchildren. She and her husband had just celebrated 50 years of marriage. Her family said she loved working at Von Maur in the crystal department. She also did a lot of charity work. Her daughter-in-law said Jorgenson was friendly and outgoing, popular at work and everywhere else.

A family friend, three grandchildren and a son-in-law all shared memories of Jorgensen on Friday morning. They said she worked at Von Maur since it opened in Omaha, and that she had an impact on everyone she knew.

Grandchildren Ryan and Andi Husk, of Fort Calhoun, said they still expect their grandmother to call and check in -- they have yet to accepted that she is gone.

"Grandma and grandpa were the definition of true love," Ryan Husk said. "They were the epitome of true love."

Andi Husk said she hopes her upcoming marriage will follow her grandparents' example. She said Jorgensen was acting as her wedding planner, and she plans a tribute to her to be part of the wedding.

She said the family plans to celebrate a happy Christmas, too.

"We know that Grandma is really here with us, and she would be upset with us if we didn't go on just make it the best Christmas," Andi Husk said.

Jorgensen's visitation is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Heafey, Heafey, Hoffman Funeral Home. The Jorgensen family plans a memorial service later that night at St. James Catholic Church at 7:30 p.m.

The funeral is planned for 10 a.m. Monday at St. James.

Maggie Webb

Webb, the youngest of the victims, was just two weeks from her 25th birthday. She was a native of Port Byron, Ill. A friend said Webb had just moved to Omaha in November to work as a new "up-and-coming" manager at Von Maur. She was a cat lover. The Illinois State University Pantagraph reports that Webb graduated from ISU with a degree in business administration in 2005. She is the daughter of Dave and Vicki Webb of Port Byron.

In Moline, Ill, where Webb worked at another Von Maur, flags are flying at half-staff. Friends said the she worked here in the shoe department while in high school, transferred to Chicago and then to Omaha.

Ryan Mathias said he has been friends with Webb since high school.

"I'm angry," Mathias said. "I'm angry at that kid. I don't understand why he took something so beautiful from this world."

Webb was a Moline High School honors student who was involved in student government and peer counseling. Educators there said they are stunned by news about one of their own.

Scharf was a customer on the third-floor of Von Maur when he was caught in a barrage of gunfire. Gary Scharf's family said her was buying some clothes before flying out on a business trip. His sister said he was a national sales manager for a life sciences company. Scharf grew up on a farm in Curtis, Neb. The family said they always gathered at the farm in Curtis to celebrate holidays, and had just done so this Thanksgiving. They said he was an excellent father to his son Steve, loving son, and a great family man. They said he had a "total love for animals and for the Earth."

On Friday, Doris Scharf shared some of her favorite memories of her son.

"He took his teddy bear outside, and I said, 'Where you going?' And he said, 'I'm going to show him to God,'" Doris Scharf said.

The victim's son, Steve, said his father was his best friend.

Nobody is ever going to be a perfect father, but if my dad wasn't the perfect father, he was my best friend," Steve Scharf said.

Steve Scharf said he found out about his father's death on Wednesday night.

"The last time we spoke on the phone, I was at work, and he said, 'I love you. You're at work and you think twice about saying it, and you know? I'm glad I did. 'I love you,' and that was important," Steve Scharf said. "Geez, we talk to each other every day. I know we love each other, and I thought about saying, 'We know, we don't really need to say it.' Now, I'm glad I never said that. 1 wouldn't take back one I love you. What I wouldn't give to talk to him once more."

Gary Joy

Joy's mother, Inez, said her son visited often at the retirement community where she and her sister live. She said her son was pursuing a degree in literature at Bellevue University. She said her son loved to write poetry and stories.

She said he donated his organs. She called that typical of the way he always helped others.

"He was helping somebody," said Inez Joy, 91. "That's what he wanted to do."

Joy said she will always remember the attention he paid to her. She said he always came when she needed help, and would often visit to have dinner with her.

Angella Schuster

Schuster's family said in a statement that she was born in Dubuque, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1994 with a degree in education. She worked as the manager of the girls department of Von Maur on the third floor. She had worked at Von Maur for about 10 years.

"Angie was a very sweet and tender person and was loved by everyone that knew her," the statement said. "Angie was a devoted sister and aunt. She was very close to both of her sisters who live in Nebraska. She was a wonderful aunt to her two nieces and her nephew. She really loved children and talked about her nieces and nephew all the time. She was in love with her boyfriend and very happy about the life they were planning together. Angie always kept in touch with all the friends she made throughout her life and had many devoted friends around the country that she knew from college and her childhood."

Schuster's older sister, Donna Kenkel, said they last saw each other Sunday at a child's birthday party at the Omaha zoo. Her brother-in-law, Jeff Kenkel, said she and her boyfriend of about 18 months were planning on getting engaged and eventually getting married.

John McDonald

P.J. McDonald is a chaplain for the Clive Fire and Police Departments. He told KETV sister station KCCI on Thursday morning that his brother was at the mall Christmas shopping with his wife when he was shot.

"People enjoying their Christmas shopping on a pleasant afternoon, and then to have nine lives lost -- one of them my brother. It's a terrible thing," McDonald said. "My brother was a gentle soul. If there was one thing that would be a characteristic of his, it was the fact that he did not like violence."

McDonald said he hopes that people watching this story from around the world will take a moment to look at their own lives.

"I again invite people observing this to take some time and think about where we are with some of our violent acts that we no longer need to entertain, and just softening of the heart," the chaplain said.

Despite his training, McDonald said he isn't functioning well right now.

"I can be a chaplain for other people, but on my own behalf, I am useless. I am devastated by this horrible turn of events," he said. "When I heard it, I had no response. I sat there and cried. That's all I could do."

The grieving brother said he remembers a wonderful soul.

"Happy memories of summertime, when we would go river rafting, the Salmon River in Idaho was one of our favorite places, we would go fishing or sometimes we'd just meet and just sit and talk," he said.

Beverly Flynn

Von Maur employee Janice Hopkins watched as the names of the victims were read on Thursday morning. Hopkins worked beside many of them, including Flynn -- a mother of three and fellow gift wrapper.

"This was her second season. She was also a real estate agent -- did this for Christmas because she thought it was fun and she liked the discount. Didn't do it for the money, she liked working," Hopkins said.

Dave Moody was Flynn's office manager. He said she was a wonderful real estate agent and well-respected.

Counselors were expected at the NP Dodge office at 1 p.m. Thursday and employees planned to take a collection for the family.

Dianne Trent

Creighton University said two of its employees in the Undergraduate Admissions Office are mourning the loss of family members. Gail Bachtell's aunt, Jorgensen, and Deb Kolar's cousin, Trent, are among those who died.

Trent's family attorney, Dennis P. Lee, released a statement.

"Dianne was the third oldest of six siblings. She leaves behind four sisters and a brother who loved her very much. She grew up in Omaha. She attended St. Pius and Marian High School and graduated from Benson High School. Dianne was a dedicated worker at Von Maur for the last eight years. She was a gentle, generous, soft-spoken woman who loved the Lord. Dianne enjoyed vacationing with her family. She loved the Christmas season and shopping. She lovingly took in animals. Anyone who met her loved her. She was a fabulous aunt to 10 nieces and 13 nephews. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends."

Trent's funeral is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Leo Catholic Church.

Creighton University Medical Center trauma director Dr. Leon Sykes said Joy was the first victim who arrived at their trauma center. He was dead on arrival. Flynn had a gunshot wound to the chest and minimal life signs, the doctors said, but emergency medical technicians were doing CPR and she was taken to surgery. After 45 minutes, she was pronounced dead.

Wounded Man Called 'Joyful'

The wounded are: Fred Wilson, 61, and Micheale Oldham, 65, who were both critical but stable on Thursday morning.

At 11 a.m. Thursday, Wilson had been upgraded to serious. Doctors said he was hit in the arm and they hope to save the limb.

Speaking from the medical center on Thursday afternoon, Wilson's family said their hearts go to the families of the dead. They said they've spent a lot of time with Wilson, and he reacts to them a little bit.

Family said Wilson loves his second career in customer service, after retiring from teaching in Iowa. They said his interests are wide and varied, and he is passionate about his hobbies. They said he's a joyful person and it's contagious.

Oldham had taken two gunshot wounds; one to the abdomen and one to the back, Sykes said. She was taken into surgery, and on Thursday morning was in intensive care.

Jeff Schaffart, 34, and Brad Stafford, 55, were both treated and released.

A fifth person hospitalized after the shooting apparently had a medical condition unrelated, and was not identified, Warren said.

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